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I deal with depression every now & then in my life, not necessarily more than a lot of people. I feel like it's quite a bit, but I don't really know. Maybe it's just normal. I've suffered from it, badly in the past, but I've been pretty much free of it for years on end now & I feel lucky for that. My wife has suffered from it terribly and still does frequently, although it is better now that I have learned to help her manage it better (and completed a course on emotional intelligence as part of my CPD, which as surprisingly helpful despite seeming elementary at the time). For some reason I'm floored by Fasolo's revelation. I know it is foolish of me, but I really just didn't think he was the type. Seemed a happy, bouncy (even cocky) fella and I'm sad to hear he is doing it hard. If anything, I'm thankful he is open about it and seeking help, and also for the timely reminder that I should never assume someone is safe from the black dog in spite of appearances. (terribly self indulgent post, but I felt like sharing)

Saw this today: Average attendance of every side’s home and away matches in 2017 Team Games Average attendance Essendon 10 53991 Richmond 10 50621 Collingwood 10 49923 Carlton 10 44006 Melbourne 10 39510 Hawthorn 10 37709 Western Bulldogs 10 37692 Geelong 10 36399 West Coast 10 36089 Adelaide 10 36051 Fremantle 10 34120 Sydney 10 33005 St Kilda 10 30684 Port Adelaide 9 29391 North Melbourne 10 25091 Brisbane 10 20741 GWS 10 19908 Gold Coast 9 13041 Source: AFL tables Great result if correct.

Commeth the moment, commeth the man - Bernard Vince. We were fekked if not for that intercept.

Yes Keilty isn't up too AFL standards yet but "very,very average"? You really don't know what you are talking about man

Dont wish the black dog on anyone. Hope he gets the help required.

Sounds suspiciously like a he-played-well-against-us pick.

Feels like Demon supporters might be taking for granted the fact we are now a high scoring team.... 4th highest in the comp in fact. This is what we were begging for in the dark days where we struggled to kick 8 goals a game and went full games without any highlights.

Game day threads everywhere are insane, not just on here. I love reading opposition ones when we win. Or a club I hate when they have a bad loss. Adelaide losing to us is a prime example, you go read their thread on big footy and it's hilarious, probably worse than anything you read on here. And they were on top of the ladder. Then there's always that one post, when a team is 40 points down at 3 quarter time... "we'll win this." lol no you won't. I love it, it's emotional crazyness that doesn't just disappear for ever like when you scream it out at the ground.

Missed the second half of it. He talked about junior footballer and lead up to the draft. Was hoping to get selected as a rookie by Richmond 3 weeks out from the draft. Then Brisbane showed interest and he thought he'd go pick 30s to them. Then a week out from draft Melbourne showed real interest and he got drafted pick4 and was wrapped. Said he still needs to improve his fitness and the defensive side of his game. That's what coaches have told him going forward. Was a very outside player until he was about 16 and got OP. Couldn't play footy for a year, stacked on 20kgs, came back and had to learn to play inside because he couldn't move much. Worked out for the best as he loves the contest and stoppages. Was talking down his standing in the footy award rating for The Age, Coaches Association etc and is just happy he's been able to get over a poor preseason where he didn't commit with his conditioning and made some poor choices. Didnt head the second part of the interview but jeez we have landed an absolute ripper in Clarry. Credit to Jason Taylor and his team for taking the risk as it's paying off big time.

There's a lot to be said about watching the game for the first time already knowing the result. It's a lot easier to be objective when you take the stress and frustration out of it. Even watching a second time after watching it live, you're still going to be biased towards what you were feeling when watching it live. This is why I raised an eyebrow after the game when both Jones and Goodwin said they were doing a lot right in the first half when Demonlanders had me believe we were the second coming of Neeld-era Melbourne. I hope the senior coaches and players are able to be calm and rational - there is no such obligation on the fans.

I don't envy your position on here. There are always going to be tools on footy forums that want to pot your bloke without knowing anything about him. Just roll your eyes and ignore.

Further to Saturday's commentary, I have just noticed this bloke in recent weeks but we might have a decent footy caller on our hands Adam Papalia He just calls the game and does it well. No bullshirt or Bruce / Huddo like dramatics. Good voice & easy to understand Breath of fresh air this fella, hope he gets more of our games (and yes, I know I am Sandra Sully on this)

Knew instantly which you were referring to!

Don't bet on it Pates. A few years ago the AFL declared 'win games and you get FTA broadcasts and the Prime time slots'. BUT: The FTA schedule for those teams in 2017 for 10 rounds have been: Collingwood, 7 telecasts with 4 in Prime Time Richmond, 5 telecasts with 4 in Prime Time Carlton, 5 telecasts with 2 in Prime Time Essendon, 7 telecasts with 6 in Prime Time (Nice reward for the drug cheats - Finish last, get the # 1 pick, get all their players back and clean up on the FTA time slots. Sickening, really). Last year their ladder positions were: Collingwood,12th, Richmond, 13th. Carlton 14th, Essendon 18th. So I call BS on the AFL comment that 'win games and get FTA and prime slots'. (Note: The AFL have delivered to the Bulldogs but they had to win a Premiership). They all have a heap more FTA prime time slots in the second half but I can't be bothered counting them - you get the picture! The big club dominance of the FTA schedule has happened by stealth with the AFL fully complicit! The big clubs get prime FTA time slots early in the season so it helps them build memberships...top of mind stuff. And its really important clubs get their members signed up early in the season. Of course it sets those clubs up for the FTA schedule the following year regardless of how many games they win. Cycle repeats. FTA is all based on Membership numbers (except Carlton - not sure what the deal is there).

I reckon Garlett loves playing alongside Watts, I think they've got a great chemistry. He's our one player who is able to anticipate what Jack is going to do, and Jack seems to realise that Garlett's usually going to be exactly where he needs him to be. Garlett's 4th goal was a great example. I think Hogan is included in this chemistry too. Of course they all have flaws - like every single player who's ever played the game does. But the combination of Watts's intelligence, Garlett's instincts and Hogan's sheer footy nous, and the understanding they seem to be developing between them, is going to be great for us to watch over the next few years.

Didn't get to watch the game until Sunday morning, but I was far from enraged with the first half. We were doing so much right but just failing in the execution in our forward fifty. The run on we got in the third and fourth reminded me a lot of our big win over them last year. This game was far less frustrating than the Essendon win. Maybe that was because I already knew the result though. Plenty of positives to take out of the game, the main one for me being our spread of scores through our forwards and midfielders. We have so many avenues to goal now.

To be honest I reckon ANB was expecting a kick, but I agree all the same. Watching "all the goals", ANB was instrumental in a number of them. I know not everyone loves stats but he lead the team for goal assists and equal second for inside 50s. He was a key link in the chain. Probably never going to be much more than a decent foot soldier, but he has been good for a lot of the year.

If he's right to play he'll play, if they think he needs more time he'll get more time. It's pretty simple.

They just showed who they think are the best young talent in the comp On The Couch, Hipwood, Curnow, Burton etc... No mention of Clarry. Even Shai Bolton had the handball of the round according to David King. NFI.

The only team I fear is Melbourne, we can beat anybody and lose to anybody.

This is good news right? Then why he look like he on A Current Affair after he swindled some old folks out of their life savings? Good to see you back Jesse.

Great to see a succession of thoughtful non-hysterical posts on the previous page or two. I agree that it's easier on the nerves & voicebox to watch when you know the result. But everyone needs to understand this RBG post. Our game plan is about sustained pressure in our f50, which should end in a goal. Our radically aggressive forward press creates this sustained pressure. But the payback is that if a team gets behind our forward press, which is going to happen several times a game, they will take the ball forward more or less unopposed in what's virtually a training drill for them, and unless they mess it up, there's a high chance of them goaling. It's impossible to chase as fast as they move the ball, and even if we leave a couple back, they'll struggle to stop 4 or 5 pacy attackers bearing down on them with uncontested ball. Our defence, probably more than any other in the league, will often be faced with speedy open attacks while being not quite in position, and they'll be made to look stupid at times, collectively and individually. This is simply the price we pay for such an aggressive game plan. So we just have to get used to it. But it will pay off for us far more often than against us. If we're playing well, we'll get two or three times the amount of goals than they will from breakaways, and we will do what we've done several times already this year and score a number of goals in succession. Other teams won't be able to stop us, they can only hope that we don't finish it off. Because if we don't finish it off (especially if we're an AA big man and a Rising Star KPF short), we're vulnerable to breakaways and we'll struggle. But as this team gets to play more together, we'll only get better and more consistent at finishing it off. Composure and consistency come mainly from experience and from time playing together. I really like what I'm seeing, though I've hated some of the results (North, Richmond, aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggghhhh!). But it's taking us to a very exciting place.

And some supporters are content with being fed grapes. Most have come to terms with Jack Watts the football player and accept he will never be the hard-nosed type but offers a lot of value in other areas. Yet, Kent doesn't put in once (it has been more than once, but it was a specific instance which got everyone's back's up), and the pitch-forks are out. We've deliberately built an ultra-competitive team, and Jack is somehow held apart from the standards everyone else is held to. Is he that much of a prodigious talent? How do you think Garlett feels when he busts his gut to put pressure on and trap it in only for all that effort to go to waste because a team-mate doesn't bother pitching in? A supposed senior leader? As a supporter who would give everything for my club, one who suffers the pain of every setback, I'm content with the likes of Harmes and Frost making mistakes, because it's evident they put in 100% and hurt when they're beaten. Just like us.

Injuries allowing, we're going to be playing a 22 something like this at the end of this year: B: Jetta TMac Hibberd HB: Hunt Frost J.Smith C: Salem Oliver Lewis HF: Petracca Pedersen Hannan F: Garlett Hogan Watts R: Gawn Jones Viney I: Vince Tyson Melksham Stretch OMac and Weid aren't in that team. I just don't see the great need for May or Lever. If they push someone out of that back-line then we end up with one less mid and that's less balanced IMO. There's Brayshaw and VDB to hopefully get over their injuries too. I think more midfield class and tall forward is more important.

It's about the quality of player you are. If you're a high quality defender, you're going to know how to combat 7+ cm in height. May and Hurley are both 193 cm but are better than any defender we have. They use their bodies, strength and timing to outmanoeuvre taller opponents. The height issue is overtalked. Of course, if there is little pressure on the ball carrier coming in and the kick is too good, no defender will be able to stop that. There are no elite defenders in the league that stand at 200cm.

Rightio - The O-Mac dropping question. The reason we can play Tom forward is because O Mac is able to put on the pressure to defend. There was a comment earlier about taking a contested mark against an opposition forward - the kid is 21. When we drafted him, honestly don't know if any of us expected he would have played 25 games by now. He is structurally important. He allows Tom and Frost to run off their man and hurt offensively. He understands the zone really well and the reason we all pull our hair out is because he seems to be at every defensive contest - even when it isn't his man. If you drop him, you will loose the defensive run of Frost and/or Tom because they have to play full back and be more accountable. Yes he is making mistakes, yes he is frustrating, but in terms of young defenders, he is doing what he needs to do in his development. Yes I'd love Lever, but then I'd need someone to play the full back role because Tom and Frost don't play it. In saying all of that, O Mac doesn't get dropped. Right now, we need to play the best 22 we have to play our game style (rather than Collingwood's). So assuming that we are given a gift with Hogan In: Salem, Hogan Out: Wager (like for like with Salem), Bugg (playing short in the forward line over the past month so this straightens us up)

Have a listen to the replay again. If Dermott was voting, Oliver would be holding every award possible at this point. He cannot stop raving about him. Derm has more of a clue than most re Clarry.

Good little read about Brad Green's thoughts on Dean Bailey. He states that it was an enormous mistake sacking Bailey after the Geelong loss. He goes on to say that now that he's in coaching, he can see that Bailey as a coach was 'before his time'. I always tended to think Bailey was too offense centric and our defense really suffered, so this is a very interesting article. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/05/30/former-captain-opens-up-on-bailey-sacking/

This. It would take so much strength and courage to acknowledge this and seek the help you need. Tragic that so many still suffer in silence.

I feel deeply for anyone with depression. Having the guts to admit you've got it is the first very tough step all the best Alex

Was a very ugly time for the club. Up there with the 1996 merger vote. I wasn't around for the Norm Smith sacking, but 186 and Bailey's departure set the tone for Neeld to come in and nearly ruin us. Thank [censored] for PJ and Roos.

As I mentioned in my reply above i was mainly going into bat for OMac as opposed to having a go at Keilty. I take it that it was probably the wrong choice of words. Apologies to his bro in particular.

Oscar may or may not develop into a decent defender. Thats years off at best... currently he's just not that good and in deep defence is often the weakest link. That just is....it might be different in later 2018/2019 How many games do ppl want to lose ? Not because of Oscar but because we're playing underdeveloped types in various positions . Let them develop and FORCE their way in. Lets improve the list ,lets better our bottom ganeday 6. Lets plug gaps with quality rtr.

I just don't see key position defenders as being our weakness at this point in time. We have one (Tom) who is borderline A grade and two (Frost & Oscar) who are on their way to becoming very good players. Keep in mind that Frost & Oscar have played only 47 & 25 games respectively, they are very inexperienced. Throw in some flexibility from the likes of Hibberd and Joel Smith, and we are okay down there. Sure, May would make us better, but it will be a marginal, short term improvement, for a big cost. I think our midfield still needs more depth, particularly on the outside, and this would be my focus. Plus another marking forward if we can find one.

But he is bigger. Bigger in that he plays with much more physicality and aggression than any of our defenders. And he is also a bigger and stronger build than any of our defenders. May would be perfect because he'd allow T-Mac to do what he does best. Intercept spoil and mark. Atm when Tom plays defence, it looks as though he feels like he needs to be superman and stop everything. Which is part of why he is making errors and is only further evidence that Oscar is untrustworthy. How many defenders do we see go up to spoil the same ball? Tom plays his best footy when his role is simplified and is allowed to stick to his strengths. We're a rabble back there because Frost and Oscar are unable to hold those key posts as well as we need. Frost is another who needs a simplified role to play his best. But part of that is because he is limited in his football-specific attributes. Get someone like May in and we solve many problems.

Apart from the fact the David King is a goose of the highest order, I think people forget Oliver is a 2nd year player with only a handful of games under his belt. His performances are measured against the best talent in the comp not the best young talent and he's standing up pretty well.

Very interesting to see what other Demon fans think of this place...I have to say I tend to avoid the first couple of hours after a loss. They're spot on. The match day threads on here are nothing short of embarrassing.

Love your enthusiasm ManDee! wish I shared it. Injuries are part of the game, look at GWS, 11 first 22 players out. we have averaged around 3-4 first 22 players out this season. just a pity that Gawn and Hogan are among them Our form and consistency will have to turn around dramatically if we are to make finals but with Melksham/Hibberd/Lewis settling in and the young guys getting experience it could happen.

The irony is that posters keep saying they want May because he is a bigger type of defender than the ones we have. He's not. Personally I don't think recruiting May would solve many problems.

Done in a heartbeat.

Haven't read the last part of this thread. But if I watched the game again, I'm sure I would zone in on a memory of Watts in the pocket at some stage in the 2nd qtr where he waved a vague hand as a defensive effort and let someone run past him straight after. That's why he and Lewis don't get votes. And that is what my post was about - the Age votes. Harmes was just as important as Watts in turning the tide and doesn't get a remote mention. Pedo has being doing the same as Watts in the ruck but doesn't get the same apologies and pat on the back. Hibberd only got 7 as well in those Age votes and played for four quarters. You can't just pick and choose when to compete. That's the exact complaint of everyone on here - we don't rock up switched on. We're not committed. Jack Watts' contribution weighed up against Jack Watts' non-contribution for me adds up to trade.

Said on another thread - 21 contested possessions on the weekend, 11 clearances, and seven of those in the centre (as well as a few of the standard super-human head-shakers). In 71% ToG. He's racking up these numbers in less than 3 qtrs of a game. Yet the kid barely got a mention in the Demonland votes. We've become very complacent very quickly re. Clayton's contributions, and that is full credit to him. No one has put up the same figures week in week out for the MFC ever, and yet we still know he's capable of more and hold him to that standard. After 23 games. Astonishing.

Ahhh - I see you've fallen for the player that is a spud against every other team, but played alright against Melbourne once in their career. See Tim O'Brien.

Agree, he's great. It's even better because he usually gets the "dud" Saturday game, twilight or night game. Which is a game we frequently feature in!

Anyone with expertise on the matter feel free to weigh in. The doctor quoted Hogan as 4-8 weeks when it was diagnosed. I'm guessing he was thinking of Jesse's mindset and mental demons rather than the operation itself taking that long to heal? If he plays against Collingwood it would be only 3 weeks or so. No rush of course but I hope he does. Imagine 70,000 fans roaring when he takes his first mark and 22 red and blue jumpers swamping him after a goal. It would be the best story of the year to date.

It's such a shame too, Nash. As someone who shared each gameday with my old man who has now passed on, and a wife who supports St. Kilda, I end up in the gameday thread to share in the game with other supporters. Yet generally we get that constant negativity for the smallest things and posters who turn up once a week so they can litter the thread with ridiculous comments which others latch on to as well. As Sylvia Saint said earlier, there are some ripping posters on here and you need to look carefully to find them in some of those threads. It shouldn't be that way, but I'm not sure what can be done to change it really.

Just watched the first quarter again. Although the Suns managed to outscore us, we looked like a real footy team with lots of good dominant play which came unstuck as it sometimes does. If a team plays like that they eventually win. Now to see what went wrong in Q2......

Should've kicked it.

Neither Lever or May have the height to match the modern 200cm+ mobile key forwards - fortunately our zone defensive style is the key to guarding those monster talls. I'll take either tbh I find it hard to fathom the captain of a side walking out on his side - but such is the nature of modern footy I guess

I love that ANB is even calling for the 20m handball over the pack. Yeah no worries, here you go.